Maio island Cape Verde

Elusive Maio is a beautiful desert island, with lovely and deserted beaches fringed by turquoise seas.

It’s the least visited of the nine inhabited islands of Cape Verde and so still relatively unspoiled by tourism. Its lovely secluded beaches offer a beach escape a world away from busy Sal and it’s even quieter and less developed than Boavista.

Stay in or near the pretty town of Vila do Maio, the main town on the island, with its colourfully painted houses and narrow cobbled streets. The Apartments Stella Maris are on the southern edge of this town, on the ocean front and with an infinity pool facing the sea.

Visiting Maio is all about kicking back and relaxing, though, aside from the wonderful beaches and slow pace of life, you will probably want to explore whilst you are here. Try a jeep safari around the island and discover the many beaches which are hidden from the road. There’s also Salina de Porto Inglês, a large salt lake which is worth a visit if you’re a keen bird watcher or if you’re interested to see how the salt is sorted, ground and packed by local women.

Getting here is via a short flight from neighbouring Santiago and a holiday on Maio is often combined with time on the main island. In the city of Praia, stay at the Oasis Atlantico Praiamar before and after your escape from the world here on Maio.